Past News Items

"Self-Determination or disguised termination: let’s be certain,” This theme you have chosen for your 1972 convention is indeed an interesting one. Your choice reflects the uncertainty and skepticism that have disturbed people throughout history when changes have been proposed to alter the status quo.

It is only human that we should be reluctant to accept without question every new idea that comes our way. For as Indian people, our caution to discard the familiar and accept the new is particularly understandable when we look at our own past Federal-Indian history.

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs today announced renewal of contracts totaling more than $150,000 with six manufacturers to provide on-the-job training for 236 American Indians. The trainees will learn industrial skills ranging from diamond polishing to electronics assembly.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today convened the third meeting of the White House Council on Native American Affairs to discuss ongoing progress and current priorities aimed at working more collaboratively and effectively with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes to advance their economic and social goals.

Two Federal agencies today acted to restore the traditional if buffalo to the Crow Indians' sacred Big Horn Mountain and help stimulate the growth of tourism in Montana.

The Department of the Interior will provide 35 bison to the tribe, and the department of Commerce will provide a $300,000 grant for fencing a 10,000-acre buffalo range. The actions were announced jointly by Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton and Commerce Secretary Peter G. Peterson.

The Department of the Interior said today it has recommended enactment of Federal legislation to amend the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act by permitting leases on Indian land at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, to be made for 99-year periods.

The basic Act of 1955 authorized leases of Indian lands for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, or business purposes for terms not to exceed 25 years, with an option to renew for one additional term of not more than 25 years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced that the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI), a Bureau of Indian Education operated post-secondary institution of higher learning in Albuquerque, N.M., has been awarded “initial accreditation” status by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton, acting on requests by the Pauma and Pala Bands of California Mission Indians, has instructed the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to issue trust patents to those Bands for certain public lands in California.

Where can a vacationer enjoy camping facilities, excellent hunting and fishing, while witnessing the pageant of a colorful and ancient pattern of life?

Indian reservations are the answer. Today, many tribes include recreational facilities in their plans for the economic development of their lands. Tourists are warmly welcomed to such areas, and, each year, the tribes play host to increasing number of visitors of all ages.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced that the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) is soliciting grant proposals from Indian tribes for projects to build tribal capacity for energy resource development.

John H. Artichoker, 41, Superintendent of the Colorado River Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, is the new Area Director of the Phoenix Area Office of the Bureau, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today.

He replaces W. Wade Head. Head retired after 37 years of government service and a career in which he served successively as Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Director in Anadarko, Okla., Gallup, N. M., and Phoenix.